Are simulated diamonds the same as lab-created diamonds?
As the jewelry market continues to evolve, consumers are increasingly faced with alternatives to natural diamonds. Two of these options that often cause confusion are simulated diamonds and laboratory-grown diamonds. Let’s take a closer look at whether they are the same.
Simulated diamonds, also known as diamond simulants, are materials that mimic the look of diamonds. Cubic zirconia (CZ) and moissanite are two common types. Cubic zirconia is a synthetic crystalline material with the chemical formula ZrO₂. Moissanite is silicon carbide (SiC). Lab-grown diamonds, on the other hand, are real diamonds that have the same chemical composition (carbon) as natural diamonds.
Comparison Table****
| Comparison Items | Cubic Zirconia (CZ) | Moissanite | Lab Created Diamonds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Composition | ZrO₂ | SiC | Carbon, same as natural diamonds |
| Physical Hardness (Mohs Scale) | 8 – 8.5 | 9.25 – 9.5 | 10 (same as natural diamonds) |
| Refractive Index | 2.15 – 2.18 | 2.65 – 2.69 | 2.417 – 2.419 (same as natural diamonds) |
| Dispersion | 0.058 – 0.066 (higher than diamonds) | 0.104 – 0.108 (very high) | 0.044 (same as natural diamonds) |
| Double Refraction | None | Strong (0.043) | None (same as natural diamonds) |
| Visual Appearance | Sparkly, but may seem overly “rainbow – like” due to high dispersion. | Extremely brilliant, can be mistaken for diamonds. | Indistinguishable from natural diamonds to the naked eye. |
| Typical Color Range | Colorless, but can be tinted various colors. | Usually colorless, but may have a faint yellow or green tint in some cases. | Colorless to near – colorless, graded on the same color scale as natural diamonds (D – Z). |
| Durability | Prone to scratching over time, less durable than diamonds. | Highly durable, but still slightly less hard than diamonds. | As durable as natural diamonds, suitable for long – term wear. |
| Price Range | Very affordable, often a fraction of the cost of a diamond – like piece. | More expensive than CZ, but significantly cheaper than diamonds of the same size and quality. | Less expensive than natural diamonds of the same quality, but priced based on the 4Cs (carat, cut, color, clarity) and are more expensive than simulants. |